Optimization of diameter and mechanical properties of Polyacrylonitrile/ Polyvinylidene fluoride/ Graphene oxide coconut shell composite nanofiber mats with using response surface methodology

Electrospinning is a simple, flexible, and efficient method for fabricating high-quality, continuous, and one-dimensional nanofibers. Although electrospinning offers great potential for nanofiber production, its optimization process is not as easy as expected. Any small change in one parameter can affect the entire system and create unexpected effects. To meet this challenge, a statistical method is needed to produce predictive models that can be used to assist and understand the influence of various parameters and the desired outcome response. The purpose of this study is to optimize and analyze the diameter and Young's modulus of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) composite nanofibers loaded with Coconut Shell Graphene Oxide (rGOCS). The method used was the Design of Experiments using the response surface methodology approach. Concentrations of PAN (9.0–12.0 % w/w), PVDF (3–6% w/w), and rGOCS (3.0–9.0 % w/w) were used to generate the average fiber diameter and Young's modulus responses. The results of the analysis of variance confirmed the adequacy of the quadratic model for diameter and modulus, with R 2 = 0.99 and predicted R 2 = 0.94 for diameter, and R 2 = 0.94 and predicted R 2 = 0.72 for YMD. Optimization using the desirability function indicated that the optimal concentrations were 10.7 w/w% PAN, 5.0 w/w% PVDF, and 4.9 w/w%), rGOCS, and the nanofiber response showed an average diameter of 570 nm and a Young's modulus of 65 MPa. Scanning electron microscopy results revealed homogeneous fiber morphology and mechanical properties, suggesting that the nanofibers had superior flexibility. These findings indicate that the optimized composite nanofibers have mechanical properties suitable for tissue engineering applications and offering sustainable material solutions.